Portable temperature regulation devices using heat transfer devices

Abstract

A temperature regulator may include a housing extending longitudinally from a first, open end to a second, closed end. The housing may include an outer wall, an inner wall disposed radially inward from the outer wall, and an insulating medium disposed between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein the insulating medium is a vacuum-sealed chamber having air substantially removed therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A temperature-regulating container, comprising:
 a housing extending from a first, open end to a second, closed end, the housing including:
 an outer wall, 
 an inner wall disposed radially inward from the outer wall, and 
 an insulating medium disposed between the outer wall and the inner wall; 
 
 a resilient member extending around at least a portion of the inner wall and extending inward from the inner wall, the resilient member coupled to the inner wall at a first end disposed closer to the first end of the housing than the second end of the housing, the resilient member extending from the first end toward a second end disposed closer to the second end of the housing than to the first end of the housing, the resilient member having a configuration that includes one or more peaks and valleys, the one or more peaks being configured to contact an outer surface of at least a first container or a second container disposed within the temperature-regulating container, the one or more valleys contacting the inner wall of the housing, wherein:
 the resilient member compresses by a first distance when the first container having a first diameter is inserted into the temperature-regulating container; 
 the resilient member compresses by a second distance when the second container having a second diameter greater than the first diameter is inserted into the temperature-regulating container, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and 
 the resilient member applies a spring force radially inward when either the first container or the second container is inserted into the temperature-regulating container to secure the first container or second container within the temperature-regulating container; and 
 
 a heat transfer device configured to direct heat from the inner wall toward the outer wall. 
 
     
     
       2. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 1 , further including a controller, and one or more temperature sensors coupled to the controller and configured to measure a temperature of the outer wall, wherein the controller receives input from the one or more temperature sensors to determine a temperature of the outer wall or a rate of change of the temperature of the outer wall, and controls the heat transfer device based on the determined temperature or determined rate of change of temperature. 
     
     
       3. A temperature-regulating container, comprising:
 a housing having an outer wall forming an outermost and continuous circumference of the container, an inner wall disposed radially inward from the outer wall, an insulating medium disposed between the outer wall and the inner wall, and an opening; 
 one or more heat transfer devices configured to direct heat from the inner wall toward the outer wall; and 
 one or more heat exchange elements disposed between the one or more heat transfer devices, and the inner wall or the outer wall. 
 
     
     
       4. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 3 , wherein the insulating medium is a vacuum-sealed chamber substantially devoid of air. 
     
     
       5. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 4 , wherein the vacuum-sealed chamber has a rating from 200-50,000 micron. 
     
     
       6. The temperature regulator of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more heat transfer devices are thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
       7. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more heat transfer devices is coupled to a radially outward-facing surface of the inner wall. 
     
     
       8. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more heat exchange elements are coupled to both a radially outward-facing surface of at least one heat transfer device, and the outer wall, the one or more heat exchange elements being coupled to the outer wall at spaced apart locations, wherein the one or more heat exchange elements are configured to transfer heat from the radially-outward facing surface of the at least one heat transfer device to the outer wall at the spaced apart locations. 
     
     
       9. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more heat exchange elements are coupled to at least two heat exchange elements, and undulate between peaks that are coupled to a radially inward-facing surface of the outer wall and valleys that are coupled to radially outward-facing surfaces of the at least two heat exchange elements. 
     
     
       10. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more heat transfer devices are coupled to a radially inward-facing surface of the outer wall, and the one or more heat exchange elements are coupled to both a radially outward-facing surface of the inner wall at spaced apart locations and to a radially inward-facing surface of at least one heat transfer device, the one or more heat exchange elements being configured to transfer heat from the spaced apart locations of the inner wall to the at least one heat transfer device. 
     
     
       11. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 3 , further including a resilient member extending around a portion of the inner wall and extending radially inward from the inner wall, wherein the resilient member compresses to a first extent when a first container having a first diameter is inserted into the temperature-regulating container, and compresses to a second extent greater than the first extent when a second container having a second diameter greater than the first diameter is inserted into the temperature-regulating container. 
     
     
       12. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient member applies a spring force radially inward when either the first container or the second container is inserted into the temperature-regulating container to secure the first container or second container within the temperature-regulating container. 
     
     
       13. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 3 , further including a controller, and one or more temperature sensors coupled to the controller and configured to measure a temperature of the outer wall. 
     
     
       14. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 13 , wherein the controller receives input from the one or more temperature sensors to determine a temperature of the outer wall or a rate of change of the temperature of the outer wall, and controls the one or more heat transfer devices based on the determined temperature or determined rate of change of temperature. 
     
     
       15. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to shut down the one or more heat transfer devices if the temperature of the outer wall exceeds a threshold from 100 to 120° F. 
     
     
       16. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is configured to receive and regulate the temperature of one or more of a medical, medicinal, or bodily fluid. 
     
     
       17. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 16 , wherein the medical, medicinal, or bodily fluid includes one or more of insulin, an antibiotic, hemophilia factor, blood, or plasma. 
     
     
       18. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is configured to receive and regulate the temperature of food solids. 
     
     
       19. A temperature-regulating container, comprising:
 a housing having an outer wall, an inner wall disposed radially inward from the outer wall, an insulating medium disposed between the outer wall and the inner wall, and an opening; 
 one or more thermoelectric devices configured to transfer heat from the inner wall to the outer wall; 
 a controller; and 
 one or more temperature sensors coupled to the controller and configured to measure a temperature of the outer wall, wherein the controller receives input from the one or more temperature sensors to determine a temperature of outer wall or a rate of change of the temperature of outer wall, and controls the one or more thermoelectric devices based on the determined temperature or determined rate of change of temperature; and 
 a compressible resilient member extending radially inward from the inner wall. 
 
     
     
       20. The temperature-regulating container of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to shut down the one or more thermoelectric devices if the temperature of the outer wall exceeds a threshold temperature from 100 to 120° F.